Fellowship of murderers

𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝟭𝟱:𝟳‭, ‬𝟭𝟭 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗯𝗲𝗹𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗻, 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗺𝘂𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗕𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗯𝗯𝗮𝘀 …. 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗲𝗳 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝘂𝗽 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗵𝗶𝗺 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝗕𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗯𝗯𝗮𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗱.

The annual prisoner freedom ritual was meant to keep the peace between Rome and those of occupied Israel. There is no biblical record of it being done throughout the Roman Empire, but that would be consistent with the concessions made to maintain control yet allow some local political fervor to simmer. Indeed, the Pax Romana (Peace of Rome) operated at the tips of swords and spears. So, not really peace at all.

That Barabbas was a murderer (likely of one of the opponents of Israel) was an appeal to his candidacy for release. But that he was a murderer at all was perhaps more so, for his advocates were actively using Roman force to murder the One who served neither their aspirations nor that of Rome – Jesus Christ. He was far scarier than any mere criminal or insurrectionist, because His insurrection was against their sin and corrupt authority. He had to go.

The riddle of the cross is that when humankind does its worst, God’s best results. Murderers free murderers and at some level even flaunt their actions with a destructive arrogance that hurts themselves more than anyone else. God pays love forward through His Son and establishes eternal supremacy over the small reign of small people.

The cross wins. Always and forever. In my life and that of all humanity.

The angst and the lightning

𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘄 𝟮𝟰:𝟲 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝘄𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝘂𝗺𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘄𝗮𝗿𝘀. 𝗦𝗲𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗱, 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘆𝗲𝘁.

…

𝟮𝟰:𝟮𝟳 𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝘀 𝗳𝗮𝗿 𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗲𝘀𝘁, 𝘀𝗼 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗠𝗮𝗻.

So much turmoil in Matthew 24! So much cataclysm and soul-wrenching upheaval. The life of a Jesus follower is to be marked by the animosity of the world and endangered by the reaction of sinful humanity towards the message of the cross and its living out. The war in the heavenlies will become war on earth.

In fear, there is a settling of conviction or an alignment with anyone and anything that seems to alleviate the threats. That is why Jesus said to not be alarmed. Far from just turning off the alarm switch, the peace that a believer can have is based upon faith that Jesus remains in control although it looks like the opposite. Believers will be put to death in an effort to stop the move of God’s Kingdom (some have tried, see Josef Stalin). Still the end is “not yet”.

It does little good to hand-wring and development of worry warts in advance of the end times. Even less good is the perverse glee who imagine the coming of Christ – verse 27 – without the unpleasant events leading up to it – verses 1-26. Even less useful than that is the false prophecy that portends to know the time of his arrival and makes survivalist preparations (absoLUTEly without scriptural instruction). This is to the shame of God’s people, for it is cultic, and driven by anything but love (which has grown cold).

There is a hopeful sobriety that awaits the second coming of the Lord, come what may. Trusting God with today’s events is always the way to live in Christ. His Word is a lamp, not a floodlight (Psalm 119:105). Because, when Jesus does return to planet earth, no one will be mistaken. No false messiahs or false refuges will compare to the true glory or speed of his descent.

Even so, come Lord Jesus.

The Identity Decision

John 8:56-59 Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad.” So the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?” Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple.

This dialog is the ending of a large, contentious exchange with the Jewish leaders and Jesus. Underlying it all was his identity. His references to his origin, and thus, the origin of his message and ministry, were all pointing to God as his Father and heaven as his point of origin. The leaders repeatedly referred to their national and spiritual identity as children of Abraham, but Jesus refuted that spiritually, saying that Abraham was in line with what He said and did.

Finally, Jesus spoke of his eternal existence, that he had in fact seen Abraham in heavenly places. They scoffed and fumed, and he said the words “I AM”.

Those words identified Jesus with Almighty God, who uttered them to Moses as the name that was to identify the LORD to his people. The tense is the eternal present – God always IS. The Jewish leaders instantly recognized what Jesus was saying and picked up rocks to stone him to death (as they had earlier in the chapter to a woman they had caught in adultery).

This debate is at the heart of following Jesus to this day. Did God visit earth? Did God’s Son lay his life down (that is, it was NOT taken from him) for the sins of humankind? Did he indeed rise from the dead after being executed? If so, Jesus is “I AM”. If not, physical or verbal stones fly at the impostor making such an outlandish claim. There truly is no middle ground. Intentionally ignoring the controversy is to allow flying stones, for the person of Jesus makes humans choose sides:

Matthew 12:30 “He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters”

It is no manmade tribal orthodoxy in force; it is a decision about the identity of Jesus.

I’ve seen and experienced well enough to believe he had seen Abraham before he was born on earth and one day he will see me in the same place. He is indeed “I AM”.

Being God’s clueless child

Scripture:

1 Corinthians 13:12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.

Observation:

In the “love chapter”, 1 Corinthians 13, the overall point Paul is making is that love is more important than spiritual gifts, which the Corinthians took as badges of approval from God, and as status symbols, qualifying themselves above others and making a mess of the fellowship of the saints. After the legendary list of love’s attributes, Paul makes a statement about the transience of spiritual gifts. Some have used this statement to count out the practice and pursuit of such gifts in the modern church (or any church after that of the first century). But the point of time Paul is referring to is clearly that when believers will be in the physical presence of God, as the passage above spells out plainly. Seeing “in a mirror dimly” is the current state of perception of God’s presence, and, really, the truth that the people believe about Christ. It is second- or third- or nth-person accounts that are taken as fact. And even in spiritual disciplines and exercises like prayer and worship, it is not a physical manifestation of God that people focus on. No, these thing are completely authentic, but they are done by faith. The witness of the Holy Spirit is powerful, and may believers make use of it and celebrate it. But “face to face” is an entirely different experience. And just like that which is seen, what is known is only partial and dull. But knowledge shall, in the presence of God, be complete. But Paul ends by comparing it to the way believers are presently known by God. That is, God has no need to wait for the believer to be in heaven to entirely know him – that is a present fact.

Application:

I should never claim to myself or others that I know all there is to know about God. It’s not that I’m clueless, but I am ill-informed, even by my supposedly lofty reading of the Word and through my ministerial practice. The humbling truth is that I definitely have some things wrong. Whether colored by my own personal issues or bents or just as I have misread and misinterpreted them, it is true that I see only dimly at best. Therefore, I need to be thankful for the truth I have but humble about that which I will only have then .. in God’s physical presence. This does not negate anything of the gospel; it simply tempers my heart. In this world where knowledge, even fleeting knowledge, is power and riches, this is completely counter-cultural. Allowing myself to not know and admit it is a suicide of the flesh. But let the flesh die that I might know Christ. Let those who claim superiority have that superiority, even to the point of ruling and reigning their passing kingdoms. I will know fully as I am fully known now. God has known me as no one else. Let me rejoice in the simplicity of being God’s clueless child, dancing and singing and making a fool of myself, for I am fully known.

Prayer:

Lord, this is delightful and delightfully humbling. Grant that I could walk in a manner that reflects this truth. Give me strength and perseverance, in Jesus’ name.

The beginning of reign – Revelation 11:15-17 (September 6, 2013)

Scripture

Revelation 11:15-17 Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.” And the twenty-four elders who sit on their thrones before God fell on their faces and worshiped God, saying, “We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, who is and who was, for you have taken your great power and begun to reign.

Observation:

The Almighty is cited as King of the Universe throughout scripture, for thousands of years before John wrote these words of the 24 elders in his vision. But their proclamation that He had “begun to reign” was referring to an earthly reign. In this book of apocalyptic vision, things went from bad to worse until Jesus Himself set up his throne in our world. The condescension is profound – the kingdoms (that is, sovereign nations with their rulers) that people would submit to with great fear and respect would be completely outclassed and overwhelmed by the reigning Christ. That reign was eternal and it caused the elders to fall down before Him and worship. Their expression was thanksgiving for the presence of God on earth. His “great power” was with Him as He began to rule over the earth, a power so much greater than the combined power of all other earthly powers that there truly was no match. Given to a despot or virtually any human, the response would be of utter terror for there is no human being in the flesh that could possibly wield or even understand the dimensions of power that Christ holds. Such a possession in the hands of any human king would bring slaughter and untold oppression. But in Christ’s hands, that power works for good, for righteousness, mercy and grace. Its principle work is to give life, not take it away, though the dark forces of evil will forfeit life as the just end of their pursuit. This is culmination. This is fulfilled promise.

Application:

Amen. So be it that the Lord will establish His reign on earth. But today His Kingdom has been established in my life, at least that is the claim of the scriptures. So I can read the above “The kingdom of <insert name> has become the kingdom of our Lord and Christ, and he shall reign forever”. That is about as sobering a thought as I can imagine, mostly because the amount of reign He has is the amount of reign I give Him. Now, I can depress myself with all the ways and times that I have not granted Christ reign and I should remain at least humble like that always. But the response of the elders was thanksgiving, not lament! So let it be with me! Let the praise resound deep within my soul. Christ has begun to reign – “begun” as in the new day, a new chance to rejoice in being His child and the apple of His eye (for sure I am not the only “apple” – a common misperception – Jesus can have a multitude of “favorites” and the word “favorite” still carries the “favor” it does in the exclusive, human sense). My King is no tyrant; He is no whimsical oppressor – those are the projections of doubters, those who cast their human experience onto the person of God. No, may His light shine in me this day. May His “great power” – such power that it is truly ridiculous to think He would use it in my life – may that power reign in my members, my mind, body and on my tongue in blessed speech. There is no gold like heaven’s riches, no diamonds like its jewels. And no King so worth loving and serving. Let me fall off my “throne” and worship with the elders!

Prayer:

Father, thank You for this revelation this day. Truly You know my heart and all I need, for You have given it without finding fault, though there is fault to find. Grant that I may serve You this day, in Jesus’ name, amen.

Intimate with glory – Revelation 1:17-18 (August 28, 2013)

Scripture:

Revelation 1:17-18 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.

Observation:

John had known Jesus intimately. They were close friends. At the last supper, John was the apostle who leaned against the chest of Jesus to hear his words closely and .. first. But here, on the island of Patmos, John encountered a whole other appearance of the same Person. The crucifixion and resurrection had occurred and John had seen the risen Christ; indeed he had eaten the fish that Jesus had cooked by the water’s edge. However, seeing Jesus as the eternal, heavenly God the Son was a whole other matter. His hair was white. His eyes were blazing. He held stars in His hand. So John did what was normal – he bowed in deep fear and reverence. And Jesus followed with the words that all heavenly beings say to humans in the Bible – “Fear not”. And He proclaims His identity, that which was always true but almost completely unknown when John had known him as a young man. Then Jesus proclaimed the history that John knew so well – that He pre-existed before His entry on planet Earth, that He died and rose from the dead. John had seen that. But the last part – “I have the keys to Death and Hades” – may have been new to John’s knowledge. The apostles knew that faith in Christ won the believer eternal salvation – John recorded His words in the famed John 3:16. But the keys to the gates that held their residents fast for eternity were in His possession. Literally, there is nothing to keep the church out of them or to keep those who have died in them. In Christ, the finality of death is destroyed.

Application:

How does my experience parallel John’s? Certainly I never walked with Jesus in person. Or have I? In my mind’s eye, when I came to faith, it was to a Person Who had done something personal for me. As a result I could approach Him and approach my whole life with transparency and vulnerability and project the same. It was intimate, and it still is. But that was not all, and it still isn’t. His existence as Almighty God was what gave Him power to forgive my sin and to raise me up even as He had been raised. In theology, these two aspects of our perception of God are immanence and transcendence, respectively. But John’s experience combined the two. Seeing the transcendent Christ in close proximity completely undid his composure. May I have the same experience and the same reaction, falling prostrate in worship. But may I hear His immediate words – “fear not” – and rise to my feet again. For the same God who created all things calls me His friend. I am NOT and will NEVER be His equal but He bends down to the Lifter of my head so I will know I am completely accepted and beloved. If this does not humble me and inspire me to love others then I am not paying attention. With whom am I granting audience? Who looks up to me that I can lift them up? To whom can I say “fear not” and it gives relief and acceptance? Let me find those people and those venues. Let me serve as Christ served. And let me know I have eternal life and can pursue eternal life and communicate eternal life. There is nothing in death to scare me, nothing to hold me hostage or keep me from any aspect of the life I now have in Christ.

Prayer:

Father, it is Your delight that I would know You like this. I am eternally grateful. Let me live it all my days, in Jesus’ name, amen.

Glorious resupply – Philippians 4:19 (June 14, 2013)

Scripture:

Philippians 4:19 And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

Observation:

The Philippians had been unique in their action to support Paul in his missionary journey. They had sent Epaphroditus, a “fellow soldier” in Christ to Paul. It’s hard for us to appreciate the level of encouragement that this produced. It would have been easy for Paul to become lonely and discouraged. If not for a devoted life in the spiritual disciplines, he may have easily given up. But God had chosen the right man in Paul; he was equal to the task. And God’s hand was with the Philippians as they sent Epaphroditus to find him and bless him with their gift. But Paul’s response did not end with thanksgiving; it included the promise cited above. Sacrificial giving, though rare in this day, was arguably the default in the early church. People would give out of their poverty. This was not in response to some manipulative huckster, promising untold wealth and good fortune if they did so. It was due to pure faith, trusting that God saw and would act on their behalf, since they had acted on behalf of another. And so the gift was trusted to be reciprocal, though its reciprocity originated in heaven and not earth. That is, God would meet all the needs of the givers, but He would use other givers or other human circumstance to do it.

Application:

Is there a way I can encourage the family of God? In particular, is there a set of people I know who are fulfilling their calling to places that are difficult or dangerous? It doesn’t take a direct word of prophecy to know that they need my encouragement and it doesn’t take an accountant of gifts to know that I have things to give them that would not only “make their day” but in fact make it possible to continue. For the attack of the evil one is incessant both to hinder and blunt the work of God and my obedience to give what I have is a direct weapon against that onslaught of discouragement and all he would bring. So let me be diligent in giving, considering ALL I HAVE as a contributing capital for the Kingdom. And should I shrink back or be conservative let me remember the Philippians (and all in the ancient church who had NOTHING) and receive back the promise given by Paul above. All I have is from God’s supply; let it go out that I might again see His blessing. For my needs will be covered – let me both know and historically observe that – and the flow of this world’s goods, talents and even people will be resupplied by the sovereign hand of the Living God. We are not talking about worldly resources for worldly resource, but heavenly ones for worldly ones. If I believe the material world is a shadow of the reality of heaven – trusting spiritual discernment – then there is no investment that can equal the coming payback. Period.

Prayer:

Father, let me trust as I should, giving what I should and seeing Your hand of supply as I should. Wake me to Your glory, in Jesus’ name, amen.

Merciful inclusion – Romans 9:22-24 (May 28, 2013)

Scripture:

Romans 9:22-24 What if God, although choosing to show his wrath and make his power known, bore with great patience the objects of his wrath—prepared for destruction? What if he did this to make the riches of his glory known to the objects of his mercy, whom he prepared in advance for glory— even us, whom he also called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles?

Observation:

The ninth chapter of the book of Romans was devoted to Paul’s explanation of the standing of his Jewish brethren before God, once the gospel had been revealed. He began by saying that he so longed for “ethnic Israel” (a term borrowed from my seminary professor – versus “spiritual Israel”) to come to the knowledge of Jesus Christ that he would forfeit his own salvation to see it happen. Then he explained the sovereignty of God in election, that it was believers in Christ who were the true Israel and God’s mercy was vividly on display in that action. The passage above sounds hypothetical only to get the reader to think – it’s not a “what if” question at all – it is exactly what happened. For the Jewish reader, who knew God to be just and holy, it served to introduce His overarching mercy. The “objects of his wrath” would be all people prior to receiving Christ, but to the Jewish reader, it would mean Gentile pagans – those outside the promises of Abraham, doomed for an eternity in Sheol. These very “objects” were treated with mercy and patience, rather than the wrath so well understood (or not) by the religious observers. This was not a reversal of a position on God’s part, but it was a prepared, ordained disposition “for glory” on behalf of all who would believe. He does NOT say others are prepared for judgment. But the overall duality of the communities and multiplicity of ethnicities producing this group prepared “for glory” is as important a part of the statement as any measure of mercy. This was a move of merciful inclusion.

Application:

How dare I ever consider someone outside the reach of such mercy? Do personal hurts, corporate offenses or any perceived thought, word or action cause me to give up hope in people, even hate them with religious venom, personal banishment and my own contrived condemnation? There are poisonous people that I must keep my distance from, but only to pray harder and hope for more diligently. God’s mercy has no expression except my life for the people around me; I am ashamed this very day to realize how poor an example I have been. But then, my reception of that mercy goes on in my life every day, so I mustn’t give up the knowledge that His mercies are new every morning, and drinking in and practicing those mercies as well. And this is of course not a condemnation of Jewish people either; or any other religious community. The preparation “for glory” of people from every nation was for the Jew first, and inasmuch as Jewish people were the first to come to Christ, it opened the door for all Gentiles who would ever come, including me. The whole church owes its existence, doctrinal footing and rich history to those first Jewish founders; it can never be a word from God to count them out or destroy them. The only exclusion is an exclusion from mercy. That is, those who will not receive mercy are the ones outside of Christ and the promises of God. But mercy can break through; it happens every day. May it find a home with me to do that very work.

Prayer:

Father, this is Your will and will be Your will forever. Let me never take it for granted or ever cease to show the mercy by which I have been saved. For it is for glory and I want that glory to shine. In Jesus’ name I ask this, amen

The prayer portal – 1 Kings 8:27, 29 (May 22, 2013)

Scripture:

1 Kings 8:27,29 “But will God really dwell on earth? The heavens, even the highest heaven, cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built! … May your eyes be open toward this temple night and day, this place of which you said, ‘My Name shall be there,’ so that you will hear the prayer your servant prays toward this place.

Observation:

My personal observation is that, in the life of Solomon, there was no more regal and noble act he did than the building and dedication of the temple in Jerusalem. It was a magnificent, state-of-the-art, even opulent center of worship for the people of Israel and one that had been planned since the reign of Solomon’s father, David. But his real achievement is in understanding the true purpose of the temple. And that is succinctly expressed in the verses above. Unlike the nations around Israel, whose gods were thought to dwell in their temples – indeed, the statues they erected were thought to be the gods themselves – Solomon grasped that all he had built was a portal for prayer. He appealed to God throughout his prayer of dedication to listen to those prayers, based upon words spoken by God Himself concerning His relationship with His people. Solomon was self-deprecating in this but deeply prophetic and all-encompassing.  He covered all the maladies that would befall people individually and nationally. He covered times of blessing and times of the worst judgment.  Even as he foresaw the people exiled to foreign lands due to their rank sin, he asked that God would hear their prayers of penitence as they were offered towards the temple.  He did not see the temple destroyed, though it would be, but that was consistent with his request that Gods eyes be open at all times towards His people.  Yet in later history, even after it was destroyed the vision of temple was  established in the hearts of the people.  Even in the Babylonian exile, it was the temple that was at the spiritual heart of the people to be restored.

Application:

I wept when I read this today. I had a tender visitation from the Holy Spirit to remind me that this temple prayer was for me, for all God’s people across time. The prayer portal has been opened to me, not only from Solomon’s inaugural prayer but from the point the curtain was ripped in two at the death of Christ. For God does not dwell in temples but God has dwelt with humans; it happened. And all the circumstances under which Solomon prayed the people would go through have either been mine in a physical or metaphorical sense. That is, every trouble, including exile, has been lived out in my life of faith. And if there is any still unlived, then I can be sure that there is the full chance my life may yet take that turn. And yet the prayer of Solomon extends to this day into the lives of those who came to God through the only means now remaining – Messiah Yeshua (Jesus) – and the temple that could not contain God has been transferred to the temple of the Holy Spirit – the bodies of believers. Yet it remains a temple from which God’s people can stray and against which they may rebel, ignore and let fall into disrepair. Still, the prayer holds and the portal is still open. The up and down cycle is part of any life given to God. It is glory to glory, strength to strength, but between each glory and each strength there can be dissipation and rank darkness. “Turn to Jerusalem and pray” chides the Spirit, not the Jerusalem in physical Israel, though the promises remain for that place, but the New Jerusalem of God – Heaven itself in all its splendor. For the portal has been opened to THAT city once and for all.

Prayer:

Father, I thank You for this prayer-enabling prayer. Truly my life needs the devotion that Solomon prayed for. Truly You have restored me to relationship even with I fell and walked away, and for that, and for salvation in the first place, I give You PRAISE. In Jesus’ name, amen. 

Commended by whom? – 2 Corinthians 3:4-6 (April 3, 2013)

Scripture:

2 Corinthians 3:4-6 Such confidence we have through Christ before God. Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

Observation:

Paul was reminding the Corinthians who they were and who he was to them. The church at Corinth was very open to guest speaker and teachers coming in to give instruction. Such people would come with great pomp and letters of recommendation as accomplished orators. But they had nothing to say concerning Christ or following him. Paul had just written that he and his assistants needed no such letters because the people themselves were letters proclaiming the testimony of the gospel. In the verses above he went on about the confidence he was expressing, saying that it not based upon their own claims and boasts, but it was a competence that originated with God. Like experts in any field, they had been seasoned for productive work, and that process had been orchestrated and executed by God Himself. So their expertise and its accomplishments were a product of God’s grace. And the new covenant that they ministered was not one of the letter – cold words written and read in rote fashion to deadened ears – but of the Spirit, so that new life would spawn from its proclamation and practice. This was New Testament ministry.

Application:

Where do I get commended in my competence? Surely it’s not a bad thing to have others build your reputation. But do I build my own? That’s selfish and, if I don’t base my confidence in the Lord, it’s even a lie. Let me be sober-minded concerning my gifts and talents and my execution of the job at hand. And let me lean upon God to provide my commendation, for nothing in myself rivals His Word or the work of grace He has begun and sustains. There is great testimony that builds a confidence far greater than that from the mouth of people, which fades with time and the relentless progress of new, required expertise. May I become a competent minister even as Paul was, having the Spirit affirm my work and continue my professional development, albeit “professional” only in professing and practice of the Word and its directed work. For whatever I do for pay, I am certainly and always a minister of reconciliation – reconciliation to God from a state of dissolution and separation through unbelief. Am I active in that work? Am I letting God show me how to do it? Or have I shrunk back into the commendation of people, allowing human reputation to define me and make me feel worthy? If so, let me break out even this day.

Prayer:

Father, I need to be made competent by You, no one else will do. Let me lean into Your truth this day, that You might direct and lead me. Let me speak and live Your Word, in Jesus’ name, amen.